Sunday, December 24, 2017

Perhaps, nowhere a person could be booked for taking oath in a language, let alone the state's official language.

But in Uttar Pradesh, taking oath in Urdu can be risky.

Years ago legislators were not allowed to participate in Assembly proceedings because they insisted on taking oath in Urdu. A couple of decades later, the situation hasn't changed.

An elected councillor (corporator) of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) faced opposition from the BJP when he tried to take oath in Urdu in Aligarh.

Further, Musharraf Husain, the BSP leader, was charged with 'malicious intent to outrage religious sentiments' under section 295 (A) of the Indian Penal Code.

The BJP corporators had opposed his decision to take oath, assaulted him and created ruckus. Further, they managed to get a case registered against him, that too of hurting religious sentiments!

Is it democracy? Is it a fair system? Isn't there clear bias visible across the administration--from political parties to the police department? How could the FIR be entertained?

Urdu is one of the official languages recognised by Indian union. Further, it is the language of Uttar Pradesh--UP. There are more than 50 million Urdu speakers in the state, which is the natural homeland of the language. Also along with Hindi, it is the second official language here.

[The problem with Urdu in UP is unique. The institutional bias, communalism and systematic attack on the language is strongest in this state.

Clearly, the bias is sickening. It reflects the deep seated prejudices. In fact, disciplinary action should have been taken against the policemen who took this action. It is seditious and infringes on fundamental rights when you book someone for using the state language.

"They want to communalise even Urdu which is symbolic of our syncretic culture. Urdu is not related to any religion. So my taking oath in Urdu does not provoke or hurt anyone's religious feelings,” he told The Hindu.

“Till this morning, at least when I woke up, India was still a democracy and as per the law Urdu and Hindi are official languages in Uttar Pradesh. As far as I know the rules an oath can be taken in any of the 22 languages in the Constitution - Urdu is one of them,” he added. Mr. Husain said he would approach the court against the police FIR.

UPDATE: Several days later, under pressure, when there were voices about biased action, police registered the counter FIR against 'unidentified persons' for assault with BSP leader. Of course, no one named in the FIR in this case.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Saffron fanatics ran riot in Udaipur court, attacked police, injured 31 officials and personnel, pelted stones, barged into court and one of them unfurled his flag on the court.

They are supporting a monster--Shambhu Bhawani alias Shambhu Regar, who hacked an innocent man to death, and burnt him, got video shot and it was shared on social media.

Entire nation saw how the radicalised terrorist committed the murder of a Muslim man, just because of his religion. Throughout the year--2017, Muslims all over India have been killed by cow vigilantes and fanactis linked to the right-wing Hindutva ideology.

The picture of Shambhu Bhawani killing Afrazul was equated with that of a man killed by an ISIS terrorist in Syria. But there is a difference. India is not war-torn and it is still a democracy.

That's India in 2017. No bullets or even rubber pellets were fired when the fanatics supporting Shambhu Bhawani went on rampage. There is open support being expressed in public for the person involved in the monstrous act.

Further, donations have been collected and money is being sent for help for Shambhu. Is this the India, our founding fathers dreamt of? Why there is no strong condemnation of this brazen killing and the manner in which support is being extended to the murderer?

*No strong statement from Chief Minister, Rajasthan as yet*Forget BJP, even Opposition CONGRESS remains mum*On the Udaipur rampage, attack on police and ruckus in court, NO WORD from Top Congress Leaders

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Shambhulal Raigar alias Shambhu Bhawani, a right-wing fanatic, hacked a Muslim man to death, poured kerosene on him and burnt him--an incident that has shocked the nation.

He got the entire scene video-recorded (his own minor nephew was given the task) and seemed to have no compunction for the crime.

The victim--Afrazul, 50, was a poor labourer from West Bengal. He was befriended by Shambhu, who took the former to a desolate spot and then attacked him before burning him alive. The incident occurred in Rajsamand in Rajasthan. The state has witnessed several such crimes--ranging from Pahlu Khan's murder by cow vigilantes to the killing of Muslim folk singer Ahmad Khan.

"Khan is survived by his wife, mother and three daughters. His family is struggling to deal with medical expenditure of his 80-year-old mother who has been bedridden with paralysis for one year", says this report in The Hindu.

The initial reports of the horrific crime started coming from December 6. What was Afrazaul's fault? Nothing, except that he was a Muslim. The hate crime and the level of indoctrination of Raigar, which prompted him to kill the man with such brutality, shows the worrying level of hate in the country.

Who had radicalized Shambhu Raigar?

The initial probe suggested that Shambhu Raigar used to watch lot of videos on his mobile. The videos that peddled hate--talked about 'Love Jihad', a right-wing propaganda accusing Muslims of marrying Hindu girls.

With mainstream TV channels showing inflammatory videos and propaganda day after day, the distrust between communities has grown.

The tweet on the right (above) tells the state of Indian media.

The largest circulated English daily in the world, Times of India, suggests as if Afrazul was involved in any love affair--though it was not the case. Shambhu had become a fanatic, watching this sort of propaganda and videos on phone.

Propaganda is passed off as news on TV channels like Times Now, ZEE news, Sudarshan Channel, India TV and Republic.

The owners of these channels, media houses--Vineet Jain to Subhash Chandra, they can't escape the blame. History will never forgive them for passing off propaganda as news and dividing Indian society on communal lines.

A lie spoken a hundred times, becomes a truth. In India, the kind of hatred that is being fanned by the TV channels--both Hindi and English, apart from irresponsible print media, and the proliferation of social media where inflammatory messages are spread through Whatsapp and Facebook, has created this situation.

Thursday, November 09, 2017

As many as 26 people including kids and unborn child were shot dead in a massacre in a Church in America.

The incident in Sutherland Springs Church in Texas, shocked the entire world.

But, the man, Devin Kelly, who ruthlessly killed the people of his own Church community (where his family prayed) was not termed 'Terrorist'.

Kelly shot children in the head, point blank, reports newspapers and TV channels.

Reports after reports informed about the gory scene--nothing but blood and children's bodies remaining on the scene of crime. LINK

The New York Times (NYT) mentions how he fired quickly, methodically, shooting his terrified victims--including small children--in the head. The report uses the word 'terrified' but won't term the man a terrorist. It calls him 'gunman'.

For American media and opinion makers, when a White kills, immediately he is a 'gunman' or someone with 'troubled childhood' or 'mental issues', as if it somehow justified or brings down the gravity of the crime.

Here lies the problem in USA. If it is their guy--the white, then he is not a terrorist. Only the 'other', person of different race or religion can be a terrorist.

That's how the supposedly free media and the most advanced society in the world, deals with Terrorism. Cut the crap, call it what it is--Terrorism. There is a long list now--after every such incident, we hear terms like 'lone wolf', 'shooter', 'gunman' or 'psycho-killer'. And that's how America deludes itself.

Siddiqui, Khan, Quraishi, Sheikh, Ansari, Salmani, in more than 80% names in UP, MP, Delhi. The excessive focus on surnames and hence caste-link and caste perception.

Much difficult to find 'caste' or 'clan'. Hence, less caste feeling in the four southern states compared to North where majority of marriages are on caste lines, biradiris.

With surnames, comes the immediate perception. People form image, place the person in hierarchy, status in society. Happens less in schools, more as you grow up.

However, the names in schools-institutions suggest that in South Indian society, surnames are given hardly any importance. They are not too much part of identity or caste pride. Time for Northies to learn this too, from South. Isn't it!

He replied in affirmative and said that 'phoonk padwa lenge to jaldi theek ho jayega'. There was hardly anyone inside as the prayer time was over long back.

When my elderly cousin came out, I told him. He blew the air, reciting some verses. Though I had seen this in qasbahs a lot, it was a bit surprising to see it in city, even now. That was at Muttaqipur in Lucknow, last month.

Just when TV channels spread Islamophobia and we hear news about lynchings, hatred, at the same time such traditions and stories give you another perspective about the country, on the ground.

[Harmony exists all around us but is often ignored. Instead, stories of hate, discord and communalism get spread easily.

There are a million examples in our daily lives across India but they don't get promoted, hence, news of hate and discord gets heard more. Let's change it, now.

This is a small attempt to change it through Communal Harmony Project]

For reading similar reports on this blog, Click the link HERE and also find out more about Communal Harmony Project]

Muslims in Kharagpur town in West Bengal, decided not take Muharram procession, as the money spent would be used to fund the treatment of a Hindu man.

In times, when people fight over religious processions and every year, processions grow bigger and there is a competition to take out them, it is a news with a difference.

Samaj Sangha Club will raise 50,000 for Abir Bhunia, 35, a Hindu man, who is suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of immune system, reports Kaushik Dutta.

They have already given him Rs 6,000, the report in Hindustan Times further says. In fact, stories are spread all around us though they don't get due attention. Read the complete story here [LINK].

“Muharram processions can be organised every year. But we have to save the life first,” said Amjad Khan, secretary of Samaj Sangha. “We have started raising money. On Friday, after the namaz we will ask the imam in the mosque to announce a donation drive for Abir. We hope to raise a bigger amount than the budget for our procession,” said Khan.

Abir is full of gratitude. The household is facing several issues apart from his illness. After the gesture, others also came forward for support. Pradip Sarkar, chairman of Kharagpur municipality, said they would try to help Bhunia.

[Harmony exists all around us but is often ignored. Instead, stories of hate, discord and communalism get spread easily.

There are a million examples in our daily lives across India but they don't get promoted, hence, news of hate and discord gets heard more. Let's change it, now.

This is a small attempt to change it through Communal Harmony Project]

For reading similar reports on this blog, Click the link HERE and also find out more about Communal Harmony Project]

It was a person passing by the area, who saw the duo performing the slaughter in the field, when he informed the police.

Prompt action led to the arrest. Ram Sewak Dixit was caught red-handed, with blood on his hands and the sharp-edged weapon.

The aim was to cause a riot, reports Hindi newspapers. The links to some of the reports can be seen below.

Mercifully, it was a local resident [a Hindu man] who witnessed the scene, and informed Dial 100. Else, it could have led to communal tension or possibly a riot. After all, in any such case, the blame goes on Muslims.

Who would have believed that it was 'a conspiracy' to engineer a riot. Perhaps, the aim would have been to settle scores with someone, a neighbour whom they had old enmity, or long-term plan to cause riot and that would be used to grab land of Muslims and loot property.

Whatever, one hopes that the police probe would lead to more disclosures as to what was going on in the minds of the duo, that they committed the act. Even Sudarshan TV channels' website had to praise the 'fair and unbiased police action, notwithstanding the religion and caste of accused' [LINK].

Monday, October 02, 2017

As many as 50 persons were killed in one of the worst shooting incidents in American history.

But media was not using the word 'Terror'.

The person--even after his name appeared, remained a 'suspect'. That's how media functions.

If a brown, black, Asian is suspect, he is quickly the terrorist. Else, the word Terror is not even thought of. Even terms like 'extremist' are not used.

Wade Michael Page, Anders Breivik, James Holmes and Dylann Roof are never described as terrorists.

Rather, they are called 'Insane gunman', 'White supremacist', 'Temple shooter', 'Extremist' or 'Fundamentalist' in the media reports.

This practice is followed in all respectable TV channels, newspapers and websites.

There is quick conclusion that the White man was 'psychologically upset' or had a 'disturbed' childhood or was a 'lonely person'. Hence, terms like White supremacist, Insane gunman or Shooter are used.

That's journalism in 21st century. For more, do check posts on this blog.

Lot of my 'friends' doing it, they even include women who seem to like (sic) pictures of suffering, fleeing men and women, children.

They are not moved by the images, stories of horror, in fact, there is an element of glee. If human sufferings--of women, kids don't move you, it shows level of radicalization in sections of society, which was known to be TOLERANT.

Even during Syrian refugee crisis, there was to an extent this attitude that was visible on internet. But after Rohingya exodus, it manifests itself more clearly.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

The daughter of an Indian father and a Malay mother, has become the President of Singapore.

Halimah Yacob, who is a a Malay Muslim minority and was the parliament speaker till recently, had quit the position last month.

On Thursday, she took over as the republic’s first woman president and the second Malay ever in the island republic to hold office as head of state.

Her father was an Indian Muslim. He was a watchman. She was just eight when her father died. Halimah, 63, was born in Singapore. Her mother was a Malay.

A lawyer, Halimah practiced in the Singapore bar. Her husband Abdullah Alhabshee is a Malay. They have five children. Halimah was associated with People's Action Party.

There has been opposition to Halimah's election from certain quarters and it was termed that this was not a voter's election. Also, her race and her father's Indian link, was made an issue.

The last Malay president was Yusof Ishak. He held the office from 1965 till 1970, when he died. Though a ceremonial post, it has immense significance attached to it.

The premier, Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong, said that in the Chinese-majority, multiracial city state of 5.6 million people, it was “important that minorities have a chance to be elected president, and that this happens regularly”.

Friday, September 15, 2017

Just like Hindus-Sikhs or Hindus-Muslims, who have lived together for centuries and have shared heritage, Muslims and Sikhs too have a shared history.

There are glorious examples of love, togetherness and sacrifice for the other.

In Punjab, all the three religious communities lived together and hence there was bound to be common culture.

Unfortunately, many people tend to create an impression that Sikhs and Muslims had a sort of fight, hate or enmity, but this is completely wrong.

A king or emperor's unjust acts or oppression, just because he happened to be a Muslim, doesn't mean that those acts were sanctioned by Islam. Similarly, a Sikh guru's fight against the oppressor doesn't mean that it was a fight against Islam, it was a fight against injustice, a fight for values.

A Muslim emperor was an emperor, a despot, not a role model for Muslims. In fact, on the ground, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, lived in amity for ages. However, there is propaganda that terms communities having enmity.

Just a few examples:1.The closest companion of Guru Nanak was Bhai Mardana, a Muslim.

2.Miyan Mir, a Muslim saint, had laid down the foundation of Shri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)

3.The works of Muslims like Baba Farid and Sheikh Bhika, apart from Kabir, are part of Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text of Sikhs.4.Once, Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib found that local Muslims in an area had no place to pray, he got a mosque built for them. It still exists.5.Many Muslims were part of the army of Guru Gobind Singh, when he was fighting Aurangzeb. Badruddin Shah alias Pir Buddhu was executed for supporting Guru Gobind Singh.

6.When there was order to kill the Guru's sons, the Nawab of Malerkotla opposed it and protested. As a result, Sikh guru blessed him. During partition, entire Punjab was in bloodshed but not a drop of blood fell on Malerkotla's land.

[Harmony exists all around us but is often ignored. Instead, stories of hate, discord and communalism get spread easily.

There are a million examples in our daily lives across India but they don't get promoted, hence, news of hate and discord gets heard more. Let's change it, now.

This is a small attempt to change it through Communal Harmony Project]

For reading similar reports on this blog, Click the link HERE and also find out more about Communal Harmony Project]

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had come to power, promising that it will work for the common man, all sections of society.

In its manifesto, the party had said that it would address issues of Muslim community too and would earnestly work to redress the grievances.

On educational front, AAP government has lately been quite active and seems to have done its bit--from construction of school buildings to reining in private schools that charge excessive fee.

But when it comes to the Urdu medium schools, AAP hasn't shown much interest. The Urdu medium schools are crumbling, grapple with lack of teachers, non-availability of the most basic facilities.

Besides, there are fears about attempts to merge Urdu schools--just another way to bring their number down, before closing them.

If AAP is serious about education, then it should pay equal attention to Urdu schools in Delhi, which is not a huge state. Things can be sorted out faster in national capital.

Firstly, there is need to improve infrastructure--construction and repair of the dilapidated school buildings, upgrading the existing schools and opening new ones.

The demands include appointment of Urdu teachers, ensuring that the posts are filled (not kept vacant or surrendered) and premises are freed from encroachments.

In many schools, teachers who are not proficient in Urdu, are posted. Besides, there are no steps to ensure that Urdu is taught as third language in English and Hindi medium schools where students opt for the language but lack of teacher or management's disinterest has led to the situation that Urdu is not taught even as third language.

AAP had made promises to Urdu speakers. Its manifesto was in Urdu too. Hope the party takes action and shows sensitivity, else, it would be felt that AAP also played the 'Urdu card' at election time.

A delegation of All India Milli Council too called on Arvind Kejrwal a few days back, urging him to take steps in this regard.

Urdu is an official language in Delhi government, however, the Urdu schools aren't given any priority. Link about delegation visit on TCN.

The Dera chief has been accused of murders too. The journalist who wrote against Dera, was killed.

There have been allegations that Sadhvis were sexually exploited in Ashram. Also, men in the inner circle were made impotent.

The Dera chief lived a lavish life, dressed as Pop artiste, made movies and acted as hero. Political parties went to him to get his support as dera has a strong following.

It is a shame that despite such accusations, he remained influential and enjoyed excellent rapport with top politicians of the country.

PM, CM and senior BJP, Congress leaders either met him and had photographs with him or congratulated him for his 'social work'.
Of late, he had been close to BJP but this failed to get him any reprieve. He has been convicted and given 20 year sentence. After he was held guilty, entire Haryana was on boil.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

The Kanwar Yatra is an annual event in North India.Thousands of youths take the holy water to long distances and offer it on the deity--Lord Shiva.The photograph on the left shows a Muslim man providing first-aid to a Hindu devotee, termed Kanwaria [Kanwariya]--youth taking the Kanwar.The other photograph shows Muslim men offering sherbet to the devotees passing by the town. These photographs need to be published here because mainstream media doesn't provide space to them and ignores such examples of communal harmony.During Muslim processions, Hindus offer sherbet at many places. And in case of Hindu processions, Muslim youths too offer their services. This is Indian culture.Unfortunately, we live in an era when even such gestures, that are common in towns, need to be photographed and shared.

It is because in big cities, where people have little time to interact and live in suburbs or gated communities, don't have any idea about this common culture and shared heritage.Many just live on Twitter and Facebook [WhatsApp] now, not on streets or mohallas of the mixed townships in cities, qasbahs and villages. For them, it's a different world. Though it is the real India.

[Harmony exists all around us but is often ignored. Instead, stories of hate, discord and communalism get spread easily.

There are a million examples in our daily lives across India but they don't get promoted, hence, news of hate and discord gets heard more. Let's change it, now.

This is a small attempt to change it through Communal Harmony Project]

For reading similar reports on this blog, Click the link HERE and also find out more about Communal Harmony Project]

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

It shows local Muslim youths holding the glucose bottles in their hands, to provide immediate relief to Hindus injured in the Amarnath Yatra mishap.

When the Hindu pilgrims were injured after the bus fell in the gorge, Kashmiri Muslims were first to reach the spot to treat the injured and provide first-aid."We are alive just because of the Kashmiri Muslim brothers", repeated pilgrims when cameramen reached the spot.

In fact, the victims seemed surprise that the Kashmiris cared for them, so much. This is because of TV-WhatsAPP-social media propaganda.

Nearly 17 pilgrims died while around 30 were injured when a bus skidded off the Jammu-Srinagar highway on July 16.

Local Kashmiris rushed to the spot, did their best to save the injured and got medication.

Certain TV channels may consistently target them and defame them, but it is these Kashmiris who are role models. The self-styled 'nationalist journalists' must realise they spew venom against Kashmiris but can't help anyone on the ground.

It is the local Muslims who ensure that Hindu pilgrims complete the Yatra, safely. Whenever there is trouble, it is the Kashmiri Muslims who show their humanity and come first. You may get irked by terms like 'Kashmiriyat' but the truth is that this is real humanity.

When Junaid is killed in a train in Haryana, Akhlaq lynched in his house in UP, Pahlu Khan murdered in Rajasthan and Muslims being lynched by 'gau rakshaks', Indian Muslims and Kashmiri Muslims show the way.

Our society--predominantly, most Hindus and Muslims are peace loving. But TV channels and propaganda on WhatsApp has turned a section into lumpen hate-mongers. Sadly, even such incidents did not get enough space on TV and in newspapers.

[Harmony exists all around us but is often ignored. Instead, stories of hate, discord and communalism get spread easily.

There are a million examples in our daily lives across India but they don't get promoted, hence, news of hate and discord gets heard more. Let's change it, now.

This is a small attempt to change it through Communal Harmony Project]

For reading similar reports on this blog, Click the link HERE and also find out more about Communal Harmony Project]

When the police busted a terror module, they claimed arresting Sandeep Sharma, a Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist.

The news was played up as, 'Lashkar's Hindu terrorist arrested', as if it was something rare.

In fact, soon after his name appeared, there were speculations and also immediate follow-up stories that how he fell in love with a girl and took to militancy.

There was a sense of bewilderment. It is true that we haven't heard about many Hindu names in Jammu & Kashmir's militancy. But thousands of Hindus have been involved with terrorist and extremist groups in India.

ULFA, which is also banned terror outfit, just like Lashkar, has had thousands of militants in its cadre over the last three decades or so.

The group [ULFA] has been solely responsible for the highest number of deaths due to insurgency-militancy in India. There are dozens of such groups in North East.

The Maoist terrorism also has nearly 90% Hindu cadre. They have been responsible for terror attacks, have killed ex-ministers, politicians like former Union minister VC Shukla, attacked and blown up buildings and installations for decades.

The right-wing terror groups have been involved in dozen-odd attacks ranging from Malegaon to Mecca Masjid attack. Names like Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sandeep Dange, Amit alias Ashish, who have been wanted for over 100 killings in Samjhauta Express and other bombings are still, absconding.

Then, from LTTE to Abhinav Bharat and anatan Sanstha, there have been extremist and terror groups with huge Hindu membership. Remember, former RSS' members were not just arrested but convicted and jailed for attack on Ajmer Dargah.

As far as Sandeep Sharma is concerned, he is basically from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. He was a welder who took to crime and later became a face of Lashkar-e-Toiba. He was close to Bashir Ahmad Wani.

Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Right-wing extremism has reached a stage where cow vigilantes' atrocities and incidents of lynching have become a regular affair.

Muslims are being targeted, killed by mobs. A teenaged Muslim gets killed in train because mob assumed that because he is a Muslim, he would be consuming beef.

This happened near Delhi. In other parts of India, the law-and-order has deteriorated exactly in the same fashion. Any Muslim can be killed or lynched over a rumour.

A man carrying cow to his home for milk is killed just because he is a Muslim. Another carrying meat is killed because it is believed that the meat would be nothing but beef.

No police complaint, seizure or lab test is required.

This is 21st century India, where Muslims can be killed at will.

When an armyman's father can be killed by a mob after announcement from a temple that his fridge had beef, one could perhaps have an idea about the situation.

Muslims never thought that they who gave their blood for India's freedom, would one day have to go through it.

In UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, everywhere Muslims are being attacked over rumours or suspicion of carrying beef.

Till a couple of years, it would have been unbelievable that lawlessness would take over the country, so fast.

That the state would not be able to control the right-wing lumpens and that the vigilantes would rule the streets.

But this has happened within a few years, a very short time.

The fact is that the right-wing Hindutva extremism had been rearing its head in India since 1980s.

The rise of militant organisations like Bajrang Dal, which openly give arms' training to its cadre, should have woken up the state.

But the authorities remained lenient towards them, even during Congress regimes.

Social media revolution has given it a fillip and took it to next level. After Facebook, it was WhatsApp that was increasingly used to spread propaganda and hate in Indian society.

The result is cow vigilante groups who seem to have the licence to attack or kill anybody. No one knows when the State would act against them. Accuse anyone of smuggling a cow or consuming beef, and then kill the person--it has become so simple.

That's 21st century India.One hates to post such pictures. But there is no other option. One has to post them. After all, this is happening in India each and every day. We must accept that we are one of the most inherently violent societies.

Unless we accept it, we can't make efforts to change it. We must rise, stand for humanity, fight the fascist forces, take on the extremists and save this nation. If we don't do it right now, it may be too late.

Monday, June 26, 2017

In an unprecedented show of solidarity with people who have been lynched across the country, Muslims across India wore a black band on their arms, on the day of Eid Ul Fitr.

It was a protest that that had no Muslim leaders or clerics behind it. The call was given by ordinary Muslims who have seen India turning into Lynch Land.

While celebrating Eid, Indian Muslims remembered how innocent Muslims have been lynched by self-styled cow vigilantes, right-wing extremist groups and radicalised mob over the period of last few months.

We remembered Junaid, the young Hafiz-e-Quran who was lynched in a train near Ballabhgarh.

We also remembered Pahlu Khan, who was killed by a mob in Rajasthan.

We remembered Ghulam Muhammad who was lynched in Bulandshahar, too

We remembered Md Salman, Mazloom Ansari and all other innocents lynched.

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Rajasthan is considered among the most tourist friendly states in the country.

But lately, incidents of lynchings, mob attacks, vigilantism and right-wing group's terror camp is keeping it in the news.

Law-and-order seems to have collapsed in this state. An elderly man, Pahlu Khan, was lynched in Rajasthan.

But Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje didn't speak a word, despite wide criticism. Mob attacks and vigilantism are becoming increasingly common in the State.

People with saffron bands can attack a hotel, believing that it served beef (though lab tests later confirmed it was chicken) and thrash a woman, forcing her to say 'Jai Shree Ram'.

Then, Bajrang Dal activists openly impart arms' training to youngsters. A middle-aged man who tries to stop people from taking photographs of women who were going for defecation, gets lynched. The authorities aren't interested in taking action.

Is this how Rajasthan will showcase itself? The reputation of Rajasthan is getting sullied. The state is now getting known for crumbling law-and-order and reign of right-wing lumpens who seem to have become law unto themselves.

They may not be worried about innocents getting murdered and vigilantes taking over from police and administration. But do Union government and Rajasthan authorities realise the danger of such negative publicity?

Rajasthan seems to be giving competition to Jharkhand and UP in such incidents. In fact, it is faring worse.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

The Congress workers said that they slaughtered the cow to protest the beef ban.

In Kerala and many other states, beef is consumed by the Hindu populace.

Though in North Indian states, it is illegal and there are strict laws against cow slaughter.

BJP-RSS stand on beef keeps changing, depending on party's poll prospects in a state. It changes from region to region, leader to leader. There is no clarity.

They speak in a different voice in North India and a different voice in South, North East, Eastern India and states like Goa. Principally, BJP is against beef consumption as it feels it is against nation's thous though the most indigenous tribal have been beef eaters.

On one hand, BJP's Hindu leaders have repeatedly said that they have no problem with beef, its Muslim face Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had said that the beef eaters should be sent to Pakistan.

1. Apart from the incident, beef fests were organised in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They were all Hindus who were performing cow slaughter and eating beef.LINK

2. Muslims avoid beef because the Hindu majority considers cow as a holy animal. Mostly, it is the Hindu populace in different parts of the country--South, East, North Eastern States and Tribal regions, that consume beef.

3. In Goa, where BJP has been the ruling party, beef is not banned. In North Eastern states, BJP has openly said that it is not against beef. In Kerala, its leaders have offered 'quality beef' in case they are elected.

4. Union minister Kiran Rijiju had said that he consumed beef and no one can force their dietary preferences on him.

5. Even, RSS leaders who went to North East, said that a person who consumes beef could join the Sangh.

6. Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar had said that government can't take position on issues like consumption of beef. "Beef consumption is a matter of personal opinion", he had said. LINK

7. BJP leader quit party over beef ban. Three days after saying the would reduce beef prices in Meghalaya if he were elected, Bernard N Marak quit BJP, stating that the party was trying to impose its ideology on people. He had said that in Meghalaya, most BJP leaders eat beef. LINK and LINK

Later, another BJP leader Bachu Marak resigned from party against the cattle trade legislation. He said that beef was staple food in Meghalaya. 5,000 members of BJP also quit the party, unhappy with BJP move. LINK

8. BJP leader in Karnataka, Vaman Acharya, who is party spokesman, said Brahmins used to slaughter cows and ate beef, in the past. Later, he retracted the statement, saying he wanted to close the issue. Clearly, he seemed to avoid controversy or under pressure now. LINK

9. Tarun Vijay says that eating habits of North Indians can not be imposed across the country. In an article in Panchjanya, he wrote that cow vigilantes should read likes of Vivekananda and VD Savarkar to understand that habits of people in N Indian can't be imposed across country. LINK

Still, right-wing groups use the issue of 'beef' to target Muslims. Muslims do eat buffalo meat, which is wrongly termed 'beef' in English media. Unfortunately, Muslims are nowhere in picture, they respect laws and even the sentiments of the Hindus, yet, they remain on target.

When it comes to cow vigilantism, the Muslims are targeted. Laws are applied in such a manner that a person is booked even if he is not carrying beef--as the sample would be tested later. Even an armyman's father, Akhlaq, was murdered over a 'suspicion that there was beef in the fridge of his house'.

Sunday, May 07, 2017

Lynchings, mob attacks, vigilantism--that seems to have become the order of the day in India.

A Muslim man was beaten to death in his house in Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, just because he was supportive of an inter-religious marriage.

The Hindu Yuva Vahini members barged into his house, abducted middle-aged Ghulam Muhammad, took him away and thrashed him until he died.

The Hindu Yuva Vahini is an extremist Hindu group, which was formed by Yogi Adityanath, who is now UP's chief minister.

Locals said that members of the Vahini were behind the attack and murder. There are barely a couple of Muslim families in this village in Bulandshahar. Now, after the incident, they plan to move out.

From Pahlu Khan to Akhlaq, from Mazloom Ansari to Najeeb Ahmad, the stories of Muslim men disappearing--either killed, lynched or taken away, never to return, it is becoming a regular affair now.

As private armies or right-wing Hindu militias keep growing in size, the incidents are increasing. Along with Muslims, a few Hindus here and there too bear the brunt of these attacks. In North India, the situation is worst.

The other incident took place close to national capital Delhi. It happened in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. Two Hindu farmers were brutally beaten.

Their fault--they were carrying cows along with them. Bhoop Singh and Jabar Singh were intercepted by self-styled 'Gau Rakshaks'--a term that means protectors of cows.

"We kept telling them that we are Hindus, farmers but they kept accusing us of being cow smugglers and started thrashing us", said the victims, who later lodged an FIR.

"They abused us verbally and kicked us on the stomach and even the face. We collapsed on the ground but they continued beating us". While this was happening, no one intervened. [TOI report]

Hindu Sena leader crushes Muslim youth to death in Bhopal

In yet another incident of extremist groups' violence, Hindu Sena district chief killed a Muslim youth, Salman, by crushing him to death under a SUV. This incident occurred in MP Nagar in Bhopal.

Salman was beaten brutally and later his head was struck against a tanker. The Hindu Sena leader Shivaji Patil later crushed Salman to death on the spot, with his car, and escaped. He was later arrested.

This is the worst form of Terrorism in the world, where people kill in the name of cow. They feel that they can kill anyone and have moral right to decide whether someone is guilty or not.

Akhlaq was killed because it was imagined that the meat in his fridge was not of goat but cow. Similarly, the mob decided that Abu Hanifa and Riyazuddin were cow thieves.

So they got the 'authority' to kill them in cold blood. Both of them were beaten to death. The incident occurred in Nagaon district. The Kachamari Pathar village is just 130 km from State capital.

Soon after the incident, in which two people were murdered, the cops had started claiming that 'it was not a case of cow vigilantism'. How? Why such hurry to give a clean-chit, instead of focusing on crime of such magnitude.

Even before probe, it was termed that they were 'cow thieves'. So where is the need for police or law-enforcing agencies?The self-styled 'Gau Rakshaks' are on a spree of attacks, violence and killings across India.

The prime target are Muslims, and in some cases Dalits too. Occasionally, non-Muslims have also been beaten or tortured. Like in Una in Gujarat, where Dalits who skin dead animal, were tortured by right-wing extremists.

1. In Bihar, a man honked at a cow and he was attacked, resulting in damage to his eyesight. LINK

2. In Delhi, a woman tried to shoo away a cow and she later nearly escaped the violent mob. LINK
Ganesh Mandal or Sharmila's case are exceptions.

6. Sheikh Bismillah, 27, and his uncle Sheikh Siddique, 65, had gone to sell buffalo meat when they were attacked, brutally beaten in Washim in Maharashtra. The assailants accused them of selling beef. "It was buffalo meat. They just won't listen", victims said. The incident occurred in Washim in Maharashtra. Shockingly, after they were assaulted, they two persons were booked under section 295 (A) of IPC. The police said that they seized meat and sent samples for test to the lab. The attackers were seen shouting slogans and forcing the duo to chant 'Jai Shri Ram', slapping, punching and kicking them repeatedly, and ordering them to come to the police station with them. Later, police booked seven persons for the assault. LINK & LINK

**Elderly Kodar Gamar was arrested under the newly enacted cow protection law for allegedly slaughtering bovines, reported HT. Gamar, in his 60s, was arrested and was in the custody of Sabarkantha police. He died. A judicial probe has been ordered.

7. Muslims are the main target. In national capital, Delhi, just over a week ago, Muslim cattle transporters--Rizwan, Ashu and Kamil, were brutally beaten. This happened in Kalkaji. LINK and LINK.

They hailed from Pataudi, Haryana. They were stopped, pulled out of vehicle, beaten up. The police had to save them. The attackers claimed to be 'animal rights activists' and representing People for Animals (PFA).

8. Self-styled 'gau rakshaks' beat up people for buffalo slaughter, a man thrashed even as he is escorted by police. The incident occurred in Aligarh. See video

9. Five members of a family including a nine-year-old girl injured in attack by cow vigilantes in Jammu & Kashmir in April. The girl suffered multiple fractures. The family was moving with their livestock. "One of our children, a 10-year-old, is still missing. We don't know whether he is alive or dead. They even beat our elders very badly. They wanted to kill us and throw our bodies into the river". LINK

10. Shivam, a BA student, stabbed after cow vigilantes thought he was a journalist [photographer] and was not taking the photograph of their protest. LINK

11. Yet another cow vigilante attack in Jharkhand. Ainul Ansar attacked, cops later save him. He insists that it was meat, not beef. This incident occurred in Darbhanga (Jharkhand) on June 7. LINK

12. 100 cow vigilantes had surrounded Hayat Rabbani hotel in Jaipur, wanted owner to be handed to them, alleging that it sold beef. The incident had occurred on March 19. Now, forensic lab report reveals that it was not beef. LINK

Over the last three years, there have been numerous cases of attacks and killings. The most recent case was that of Pahlu Khan, who was killed in Rajasthan. However, the State government, did not take the crime seriously and even one of its ministers tried to play it down, ending up blaming victim.

13. Officials of Tamil Nadu's Animal Husbandry Department had bought cows and calves from Jaisalmer for a Central government's breeding programme when they were attacked near Rajasthan's Barmer. The cow vigilantes also attempted to set fire to one of the trucks which had the animals inside, the police said. The cows would have been burnt alive had they not been rescued by the police. LINK

14. [June 20] Cow vigilantes strip, tie to tree and beat up three people mercilessly in Etah in Uttar Pradesh. They alleged that these were cow smugglers. A cop seen in video but couldn't do anything. LINK

15. [June 24]. Junaid, 16, stabbed to death in train, when he was returning after Eid shopping from Delhi to Ballabhgarh in Haryana. Called Pakistani and termed beef eater because of their dress and skullcap, assailants attack Junaid, a Hafiz-e-Quran, and his brothers in train. LINK & LINK

16. [June 25] Three Muslim men lynched in Dinajpur in West Bengal over suspicion that they were involved in cow theft. LINK

21. NOT BEEF. [June 30]. Two more lynched in Bihar over suspicion of theft, beaten to death. The victims, two Dalits--Baban Musahar and Murahu killed in Rohtas district. LINK & LINK

22. [July 9] Eight killed, all of them Hindus. They were going to rescue their kin who had been caught and kept hostage by 'Gau Rakshaks'.

In Jhajhar in Haryana, Xylo had a collision with a trailer truck. Eight died--Randhir, Ramu, Raju Ram, Raju son of Bhima, Jagdish, Birbal, Bhagirath and Sukhendra. They were going to get their relatives released who had been caught by Gau rakshaks. Victims belonged to Mehrana in Charkhi Dadri. LINK

24. July 14: Muslim man beaten in Nagpur over false charge that he was carrying beef. Kept insisting that it was mutton, not beef [later a lab test suggested it was beef]. The victim Salim Ismail Shah is general secretary of BJP's Katol taluka minority cell. LINK

25. July 14: Muslim family attacked on train in Uttar Pradesh. Mob brutally attacked entire family including women and a disabled son too, with rods and sticks. Saying, 'kill them, they are Muslims'. LINK

30. Four minors in jail for three months on charges of cow slaughter since december 29, 2017. They were picked up from Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar on charges of alleged cow slaughter, include a nine month old infant.

Mohsin Sheikh, killed in Pune, because he had a beard (June, 2014)
Noman killed in Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh by cow terrorists.
Zahir Ahmad killed in Udhampur on rumours
Syed Farid Khan lynched in Dimapur, Nagaland on March 5, 2015
Akhlaq was killed in his house in Dadri in UP.
Md Mazloom Ansari and Imtiaz, lynched and hanged by tree on March 18, 206
Md Ayub Pandit lynched by a mob in Kashmir
Md Saddam and Farooq, students, lynched in Imphal in Manipur on April 7, 2016.
Ajju Husain, a resident of Chittorgarh, cattle trader, paraded naked and lynched
Md Ayyub, a resident of Gujarat, taking his catle lynched in Gujarat on September 2016
Md Salik, Salman in Bhopal

*Eight-year-old girl raped, tortured and murdered by special police officer (SPO) Deepak Khajuria, who was entrusted with the task to find her. Later, rally was taken out by Hindu Ekta Manch in support of Khajuria, demanding his release. It carried national flag. BJP leaders including ministers joined it. LINK, LINK and LINK

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